As weather warms, bears and coyotes are more active

The DEC issued some steps and suggestions to take to avoid conflict with animals that are on the move in the spring season

From Press Releasesmessengerpostmedia.com

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued guidance on how to prevent negative encounters with black bears and conflicts with coyotes as warmer spring temperatures approach.

Nearly all negative bear encounters in New York are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food sources. The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove potential food sources.

New York is home to more than 6,000 bears that emerge from the winter denning period and need to replenish nutrients and body fat. To do so, bears may travel long distances to preferred habitats that vary from season to season. Bears must sometimes cross roads or pass through developed areas to find these habitat, and often find human foods readily accessible if homeowners do not take necessary precautions.

Bears can obtain necessary food from the forest but are intelligent and opportunistic animals that find and consume easily accessible foods including, but not limited to, bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, barbeque grills, unsecured out-buildings, or vehicles containing food or waste. Once a bear learns to obtain food from people or certain structures, it is difficult to change the animal's behavior. These bears are more vulnerable to motor vehicle collisions in populated areas, more likely to be killed, or may become a threat to public safety.

In some cases, DEC is asked to relocate these bears. However, bear relocations are rarely effective and can be dangerous. Relocated bears often return to their original capture site, or may simply continue their bad habits at a new location. Additionally, if the circumstances that led to the original problem are not corrected, other bears may be attracted to the site and conflicts will persist.

It is dangerous and illegal to intentionally feed bears. The incidental, indirect feeding of black bears, such as with bird feeders or garbage is also unlawful.

It is important to appreciate and respect black bears as wild animals, from a distance.

In addition to bears, coyotes are an integral part of New York’s natural ecosystem, but can also come into conflict with people if they become habituated to humans and food sources. With the onset of warmer weather, many of New York’s coyotes will set up dens for pups that will arrive this spring. Coyotes are well adapted to suburban and even urban environments, but for the most part will avoid contact with people.

To minimize the chance of conflicts between people and coyotes, it is important to maintain coyotes' natural fear of people. Do not feed coyotes and remove your bird feeder. Coyotes don’t necessarily eat bird seed, but they may be attracted to the area by birds and rodents that will visit bird feeders.

If you see a bear or coyote exhibiting threatening behavior, call the DEC in Avon at (585) 226-2466. To learn more about bears and coyotes, go to the DEC website at dec.ny.gov.